Lost ski resorts and hiking trails intertwine here on Horn Pond Mountain. This Massachusetts landmark holds secrets of recreation and nature. Welcome to Horn Pond Mountain.
Horn Pond Mountain offers a unique blend of natural beauty and local history. It is a place where you can hike and explore the remnants of a bygone era. This was once a ski area known as Mount Towanda.
Let’s delve into Horn Pond Mountain’s story. This area shows how communities change and adapt. Horn Pond Mountain, also called Mount Towanda, was once a ski destination. It started around 1939. The Skier’s Guide to New England mentioned plans for a tow, trail, and open slope that year. It is not clear if the rope tow ever opened.
Local Walt Kearney said the area had a tow rope in the late 1940s and early 1950s. An annual winter fest ski contest was held on Mount Towanda. In the 1960s and early 1970s, Mayor Gill tried to make Horn Pond Mountain a money maker for the town, together with the golf course. The Woburn Golf & Ski Authority was formed. It aimed to get the Woburn Country Club out of debt.
The city acquired the Country Club land after the Depression in the 1930s. It was leased to private operators. One was George Paige of Colonial CC in Lynnfield. The Authority still runs the Golf club today. Skiing was dropped for two reasons. The weather became less snowy and operations shut down. Also, the City Council never approved Mayor Gill’s purchase of ski lift equipment from an Italian company. The company sued and won. The ski lift and equipment were sold at auction.
Other attempts to improve the Horn Pond recreational area failed. There were two abandoned swimming beaches and a large parking lot. Now, it is generally agreed that Horn Pond and its surroundings are best kept for passive recreation.
Mark Gillette said the ski area operated in the 1960s and closed in the 1970s. It had a double chairlift. It was supposedly reinstalled at Nashoba Valley. Rob Johnson remembers skiing there in the late 60s. He remembers an old rope tow. Paul Murray skied there one night in the early 70s. He nearly tore his leg off.
Today, very little remains of the ski area on Horn Pond Mountain. It is now a public park with hiking trails. You can still find the old unloading ramp and foundations for the double chair. The area had two to three main slopes.
If you search for this area, look on the western slope above the supermarket. Park near the reservoir and hike to the summit. There are great views of Boston. The glacially formed Horn Pond covers 102 acres. It has a rich history. It was once home to Algonquin Indians. Later, it was used for commercial ice-making, sand and gravel operations, and public beaches. The Woburn Parkway, a mile-long drive, is now only open to foot traffic.
The pond is surrounded by woods, marshes, and fields. On its west side, you’ll find the 287-foot Mount Towanda. Hikers, joggers, and nature lovers often walk around the pond. It’s a two-mile walk.
Horn Pond is fed by several brooks. It flows out via Horn Pond Brook to the Aberjona River and the Mystic Lakes. Eventually, it reaches the Mystic River and the Atlantic Ocean. The Middlesex Canal also traversed it from 1802 to 1860.
Yellow perch are common in Horn Pond. Other species include largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, and bluegill. Killifish, chain pickerel, golden shiner, carp, white sucker, brook trout, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, and black crappie can also be found. Trout have been stocked in the past. Recently, river herring have resumed their annual migration to Horn Pond.
As you explore Horn Pond Mountain, remember its past as a ski area and its present as a natural retreat. The mountain invites you to reflect on the passage of time. It also shows the enduring appeal of nature.